Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1887-02-07
TIE zoo IN WINTER.
CARE or THE CENTRAL PARK
MENAGERlE IN COLD WEATHER.

Animals and Monkeys.
Superintendent Conklin, when asked
how he managed his numerous family Of
birds and beasts in winter, said: by
conforming as far rs possible with their
various conditions when in state of
nature, with such notifications as are
compelled by the restraints OF captivity.
Some animals, the American bison for i'm
stance, we winter in a shed open on all
sides to the wind, and only covered to
keep of the rain and snow. This hardy
animal would not thrive il kept in warm
stable. The bears all have to he kept in
cages open to the wind, but with close
compartments for shelter, to which they
can retire when they sec lit. Yet, strange
rs it may seem, we have no animals that
are more likely TO take cold and perish
with lung diseases than the bears, IL they
are kept in warm room and subjected to
occasional draughts that may not seem
particularly strong. The deer do best
when not allowed to have any artificial
heat. A comfortable shelter is provided
for them, to which they may retire when
SO disposed, but many of them prefer,
even in very inclement weather, sleeping
ON the ground in the open air.
ssThe foxes, wolves and raccoons are
provided for in the same manner as the
bears, by means Of open cages, to give
them all the exposure they need, and at
tached shelters in which they may take
refuge from excessive cold. The prairie
dogs take care of themselves. There are
about fifty members Of their little colony.
TO make place for them we excavated
the ground and laid heavy stone floor
and stone walls, making q sort of cellar,
In triangular form, thirty feet wide at tho
base and about 100 feet long, into which
we subsequently filed the earth up to its
natural level. Into that space we turned
the prairie dogs to make their own houses,
and they have done so apparently to their
entire satisfaction. They have burrowed
in all directions, and are only restrained
by the stone walls and floor from extend
ing their subterranean village indefinitely.
In the autumn they began laying up their
winter stores. They have dragged down
at least bale of hay and a great quantity
of corn into their burrows, making them
selves quite independent of us until
spring. In pleasant weather, all through
the winter, they come out and appear TO
take an interest m what is going on, but
on cold days not one of them polzes his
nose above ground. 1t is a popular error,
by the way, that the prairie dog does not
drink water. "
Yes Mr.. Thompson Clipped into the
conversation, land good many persons
have the mistaken idea that parrots do
not want water and are likely to. die If
they drink any. They forget-if they ever
knew-that the presence of parrots IL an
unfailing indication Of the neighborhood
OF water in Africa. The error arises from
the fact that those birds are generally
brought here by sailors who do not take
the trouble to give them any water. The
birds manage to live, but undoubtedly
suffer tortures from thirst, fer when they
land here and get at water they arc very
apt to drink so greedily that it kills
them.p
Everything that lives, even Ken
tucly colonel, drinks water some times,"
remarked superintendent Conklin, who
continued: "All that the sen lions ask Is
to be let alone, beyond the giving to
them Of their daily supply of fish. They
play about in the water all the winter
through. In exceedingly cold weather,
when the temperature of the air Is consid-
erably below that of the water, they stay in
the water all the time, only poking their
noses out occasionally for breath. They
have no use for any other shelter. Ice Is
prevented from forming on their pond By
their constant motion in the water.
''The swans, geese and ducks sc0rn
even such shelter as the pelicans have.
They do best in the open air all the time.
We have fenced of Tor them part Of the
upper lake, and there they swim around
enough to keep the fee from forming
on part Of the wHUcr. Many Of them,
by choice, sleep on the ice, and in exces-
il frequently frozen fast 10 IL, SO that wc
have to chop Il away with hatchefs to
Mberate them. They cou1d just as well
sleep on the dry bank, bat doubtless an
inherited instinct Of elfpreservatio from
the attacks Of pr0wling nocturnal animals
leads them to prefer the ice, away out
from the shore, as resting place. The
swans have way OF drawing their feet
up inside their thick down SO that they do
not touch the ice and arc ucver frozen,
even when the down under Gscna is frozen
into tho icc. AL the geese and sy-af.s are
wonderfully tough, not in the fcssc Of
toughness that might commend fl.cr1 for
boarding house, but in the Haatfer Of en-
durancc. Even the south African geese
and the Australian black swans. though
from very hot climates, seem 10 stand the
cold as weIl IS the others
The nnte10pes, Persian sheep and two
remaining ont Of the great Barnuin herd
Ct fOrtyf0ur elephants are housed IN
building where stoves maintain q tenpera
ture Of about 81 degs. The main thing il
caring for them IS to protect them from
draughts Elephants are liable to attacks
of pneumonia. Il must be something ter
rible Tor them. The idea of 200 pounds Of
eongested lung Is horrible to contemplate.